How to Generate Gerber, Drill Files and Centroid File From Eagle 9.6.2

This tutorial will guide you through the process of generating Gerber files and drill files from Autodesk Eagle 9.6.2, a popular PCB design software. These files are essential for manufacturing your printed circuit board (PCB) and ensuring it is produced accurately.

Generating Gerber Files, Drill Files, and Centroid Files (PnP File)

• Launch the Eagle application and open the Control Panel. Navigate to "File" > "Open" > "Board" and select the .brd file you wish to work with.

The example used in this guide is the Arduino_MEGA2560_ref.brd, which is included in the default Eagle installation. Once opened, you should see the PCB layout displayed on the screen.

• Click on the CAM Processor icon on the toolbar (not the green arrow one), or go to "File" > "CAM Processor" to open the CAM processor window.

Tip: Before exporting the Gerber files, it's highly recommended to run a Design Rule Check (DRC) to ensure there are no errors that could cause issues during manufacturing.

• Click on the document icon next to the CAM file name, then choose "Load CAM jobs" > "examples". Select the appropriate CAM job for your board. For a two-layer board, we recommend using "example_2_layer.cam".

• Use the Gerber previewer on the right side to review each layer of the Gerber files. Make sure to uncheck the "Negative image" option as shown in the image below. Then, check the "Export as ZIP" box and click "Process Job" to generate the files.

Note: It's crucial to disable the "Negative image" option to ensure the correct output for your manufacturer.

This action will create a ZIP folder containing all the required Gerber files for your PCB. You can extract the contents of the ZIP file to view individual layers if needed.

The centroid file (also known as the PnP file) is located in the "Assembly" folder and is necessary for automated placement of components during assembly.

Online Gerber Viewer by PCBWay

Once you've exported the Gerber and drill files, you can use the PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer to preview your design before sending it to the manufacturer. This tool allows you to visualize the board and verify its correctness quickly.

For more information about the PCBWay Online Gerber Viewer, you can refer to their official documentation or support page.